EP0730683A4 - Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture - Google Patents

Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture

Info

Publication number
EP0730683A4
EP0730683A4 EP95935082A EP95935082A EP0730683A4 EP 0730683 A4 EP0730683 A4 EP 0730683A4 EP 95935082 A EP95935082 A EP 95935082A EP 95935082 A EP95935082 A EP 95935082A EP 0730683 A4 EP0730683 A4 EP 0730683A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
waist band
sewing
waist
edge
edges
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP95935082A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0730683A1 (fr
Inventor
Elvin C Price
Preston B Dasher
Michael Pate
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Atlanta Attachment Co
Original Assignee
Atlanta Attachment Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Atlanta Attachment Co filed Critical Atlanta Attachment Co
Publication of EP0730683A1 publication Critical patent/EP0730683A1/fr
Publication of EP0730683A4 publication Critical patent/EP0730683A4/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B33/00—Devices incorporated in sewing machines for supplying or removing the work
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B35/00—Work-feeding or -handling elements not otherwise provided for
    • D05B35/10—Edge guides
    • D05B35/102—Edge guide control systems with edge sensors
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B41/00—Work-collecting devices
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05D—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES D05B AND D05C, RELATING TO SEWING, EMBROIDERING AND TUFTING
    • D05D2205/00—Interface between the operator and the machine
    • D05D2205/32—Safety devices; Security devices
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05D—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES D05B AND D05C, RELATING TO SEWING, EMBROIDERING AND TUFTING
    • D05D2305/00—Operations on the work before or after sewing
    • D05D2305/32—Measuring
    • D05D2305/34—Counting
    • D05D2305/345—Stitch counting
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S112/00—Sewing
    • Y10S112/02—Air work handling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for attaching a continuous loop waist band to the continuous waist edge of a garment such as a tubular shirt body or a pair of pants.
  • the waist band material is attached to the waist edge of the garment by matching an edge of the waist band with the waist edge of the garment, stretching both garment parts to substantially the same breadth and advancing the matched edges through a sewing machine.
  • stretchable garments such as sweat suits having a shirt body made of fleece and a waist band of stretchable knit material
  • the knitted waist band of a sweat suit is to be connected to the waist edge of the fleece shirt body
  • the more stretchable waist band may be of smaller breadth than the waist edge of the shirt body when both garments are relaxed.
  • the waist band and the waist edge of the shirt body are being guided t o the sewing machine, the waist band usually must be stretched more than the waist edge of the shirt body in order that they are properly matched in breadth as they are sewn together.
  • edge of the fleece material usually tends to curl as it is stretched, which requires the curled edges to be flattened before they are presented to the sewing needle of the sewing machine.
  • some of the waist bands are cut to improper widths or are cut with non-uniform widths which, when sewn to the shirt body, etc., ultimately causes the garment to be unaccepted.
  • the presentation of the work product to and the sewing of the work product by the sewing machine requires substantially full attention of the operator during at least some of the cycle of operation of the sewing machine to watch for jamming and the formation of wrinkles about the waist band and waist edge of the garment.
  • the present invention comprises a method and apparatus for matching the edges of a loop waist band with the waist edge of a garment such as a shirt body or pair of slacks, stretching the waist band and the garment waist edge until their breadths are matched, and advancing the matched edges along the sewing path of the sewing machine prior to sewing for a preliminary alignment run until the edges are automatically aligned in the sewing path of the sewing head and for removing any curl in the matched edges.
  • the waist band and garment body are further stretched to eliminate any tendency of the presser foot of the sewing machine to form a pleat or wrinkle in the waist edge of the finished garment at the end of the sewing cycle.
  • a series of rotatable guide spindles are mounted to the work table of the sewing machine and project out parallel to one another at the sewing machine toward the operator's position.
  • Each of the guide spindles has an elongated, generally cylindrical body, having rounded distal ends projecting laterally from the sewing path.
  • the spindles are initially arranged in a small cluster and the garment parts are placed about all of the spindles. When the system is activated, the spindles spread apart to stretch the garment parts to matching breadths . The spindles tend to hold the waist band and the waist edge of the garment when stretched as the spindles are rotated and the garment parts are moved progressively past the sewing needles of the sewing machine.
  • the operator folds the waist band so that its edges are aligned and then places the waist band in straddling relationship about the spindles with the edges of the waist band matched and being positioned in the sewing path of the sewing machine.
  • the edge of the waist band is detected by a band sensor.
  • the band sensor is a photocell or similar sensing means mounted along the sewing path in a position to detect the edges of the waist band.
  • a first spindle is moved longitudinally with respect to the sewing path away from the other spindles to expand the waist band to an initial stretched position.
  • a guide tongue assembly is moveable into the sewing path upstream of the sewing machine in response to the waist band being placed in its position about the spindles and detected by the bond sensor.
  • the guide tongue assembly is moved laterally toward the sewing path into a position extending over the waist band substantially simultaneously with the movement with the first spindle away from the other spindles.
  • the guide tongue assembly includes one idler wheel facing upwardly and another idler wheel facing downwardly.
  • the waist of the garment body is then placed in overlying relation about the waist band and about the spindles, and the switch to begin the sewing cycle is closed by the operator.
  • the spindles are further separated from one another to expand the waist edge of the garment body and the waist band.
  • an edge guide system is moved into engagement with the garment body and waist band for controlling the positions of the edges of the garment body and the waist band as the parts advance toward the sewing needles.
  • the edge guide system includes upper and lower edge guide assemblies, each including a toothed star wheel received in engagement with an idler wheel of the guide tongue assembly, with the garment body and waist band being engaged between the toothed star wheels of the edge guide assemblies and the idler wheels of the guide tongue assembly.
  • a decurler is mounted to the guide tongue assembly and includes air nozzles facing the sewing path.
  • the air nozzles direct streams of air across the sewing path, directed at the edges of the waist band and garment body. The flow of air across the edges of the waist band and garment body removes any curl in the edges of the garment parts as the garment parts approach the sewing machine.
  • the garment parts are allowed to advance along the sewing path at a distance sufficient to allow the decurled edges of the garment parts to move from the decurler to the sewing machine needles before the sewing machine is activated. This assures that the edges of the garment parts will be flattened before they are sewn together.
  • the guide tongue assembly is retracted outwardly out of the sewing path and thus out of the way of the previously sewn matched edges of the garment parts return to the sewing needles and the finished garment is removed from the apparatus.
  • Sensing means are mounted adjacent the sewing path and are connected to reversible step motors for the upper and lower edge guide assemblies.
  • the sensing means includes a band edge sensor mounted to the guide tongue assembly, facing the path of the fold of the band and a body waist edge sensor facing path of the edge of the garment body.
  • Each sensor typically is a photo-cell type sensor.
  • the sensors detect the presence or absence of the folded edge of the waist band and the edge of the garment body, and in response to the sensing of the edges signal the motors to rotate the star wheels of the upper and lower edge guide assemblies.
  • the star wheels are rotated in a reciprocal fashion, clockwise and counterclockwise, depending upon the position of the edges of the waist band and garment body. The star wheels thus continually urge the edges of the garment parts back and forth across the sewing path to maintain the edges of the garment parts in a matched, substantially aligned condition as the edges of the garment parts are moved toward the sewing needles.
  • an ejector progressively pushes the matched and now sewn edges of the garment parts laterally out of the sewing path.
  • the presser foot of the sewing machine is raised slightly, approximately 1/8 inch to enable the garment to be urged out from under the needle.
  • the garment continues its forward movement along the sewing path as it is progressively moved, by the ejector, out of engagement with the needles until the point where the stitching exits or "sews off" the garment and is located in the proximity of the vacuum trimmer of the sewing machine.
  • the sewing machine continues to sew and produce a thread chain extending from the point where the stitching is sewn off of the garment until the thread chain is severed.
  • the tension opener generally comprises an air cylinder to which a push rod is connected.
  • the push rod is urged between the tension plates of the needle tension assembly, spreading the tension plates and thus releasing the tension on the needle thread.
  • Equalizing the lengths of the needle and looper threads reduces the chances that the threads of the thread chain will fray and pull apart, which would require an additional processing step to trim the chain to acceptable standards, and enables a smooth transition to be formed in the stitching as the sewing machine sews off the garment.
  • a stacker is positioned adjacent the spindles and provides a movable supply frame for supporting a supply of unfinished garment bodies at the worker's station, and an accumulation frame for receiving the finished garments.
  • a wiper bar flips each garment off the spindles and over the accumulation frame upon the completion of a sewing operation. Clamp bars mounted to the supply and accumulation frames are moved into engagement with both the supply frame and the accumulation frame simultaneously with the removal of the finished garments to hold the stacks of unfinished garment bodies and finished garments on the supply and accumulation frames.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved waist band attachment system for a sewing machine which functions to feed and decurl automatically the matched edges of a waist band and the waist edge of a tubular s irt body of a sweat suit or similar garment made of stretchable materials as the garment parts move along the sewing patr. of the sewing machine.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an improved set of guide spindles for maintaining the edges of stretchable garment parts in matched alignment while accurately guiding the matched edges of the garment parts along the sewing path of a sewing machine.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a method an apparatus for attaching a stretchable waist band to the body of a garment in which the tension on the needle thread is removed so that the lengths of the needle and looper threads are substantially equal so that the thread chain sewn off the garment at the end of the sewing cycle will be of an acceptable length and will be less likely to fray and separate.
  • Another object to this invention is to provide a system for expediently and accurately loading stretchable garment parts along the sewing path for a sewing machine which permits the garment parts to be loaded in a substantially unstretched, loose condition and which automatically stretches the garment parts to a stretched, extended position with the edges of the garment parts being matched for accurate and substantially complete attachment of the edges of the garment parts together, which does not require the garment parts to be stretched by the operator as the parts are loaded into the apparatus for sewing.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a garment support assembly mounted to a work table of a sewing machine for supporting a supply of unfinished garments and the accumulation of finished garments, which can be rapidly adjusted to accommodate different size garments and which functions to remove automatically the finished garments from the sewing machine upon the completion of a sewing operation, and which includes means for clamping and holding stacks of finished and unfinished garments during movement of the support assembly for the removal of a garment from the sewing apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a tubular shirt body and a waist band of a garment prior to being connected together, illustrating how those parts of the garment would be placed in straddled relationship about the guide spindles of the system.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the waist band and shirt body showing how the waist band is folded and how the waist edge of the shirt body is aligned with the matched edges of the waist band.
  • Fig. 3A is an illustration of the shirt body and the waist band, showing schematically how the parts are guided and sewn together.
  • Fig. 3B is a schematic illustration of the completion of the sewing operation and the sewing off of the garment by the sewing needle.
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective illustration of the waist band attachment system.
  • Fig. 5 is a front schematic illustration of the system of Fig. 4, showing how the guide spindles function to guide the garment parts through the sewing machine.
  • Fig. 6 is an expanded perspective illustration of the major components of the system.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective illustration of the left guide spindle assembly of the invention.
  • Fig. 8 is a perspective illustration of the right spindle assembly.
  • Fig. 9A is a side elevational view of the edge guide system and the guide tongue assembly.
  • Fig. 9B is a perspective illustration of the edge guide assembly and the guide tongue assembly.
  • Fig. 10A is a front schematic illustration of the spring mountings of the star wheels and the movement of the star wheels against the springs to enable a seam to pass thereunder.
  • Fig. 10B is a perspective illustration of a portion of the star wheels of the edge guide assembly and idler wheels of the guide tongue assembly and the seam switch, illustrating how the garment parts are engaged thereby.
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the sewing machine, showing the dual footlift cylinder assembly for lifting the presser foot slightly at the completion of the sewing operation and showing the tension opener assembly mounted at the needle thread tensioner.
  • Figs. 12-16 are perspective, progressive illustrations of the stacker, showing how the stacker functions at the end of the cycle of the sewing head.
  • Fig. 17 is a schematic illustration of the cycle time for the major functions of the system.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a garment 10 placed in straddling relationship about a series of guide spindles 11, 12, 13 and 14 and moved along a substantially circular sewing path, shown by arrows 16, into engagement with a sewing needle 17 of a sewing machine.
  • the garment is comprised of parts including a knitted continuous loop waist band 18 and garment body such as a fleece shirt body 19.
  • the knitted waist band is folded over along its length, as shown by 21, so that its edges 22 and 23 are in an overlying aligned relationship.
  • the edges are placed in the sewing path 16 which extends beneath a sewing needle 17, with the fold 21 of the waist band 18 facing away from the sewing needle.
  • the shirt body 19 has a waist edge 24 that is placed in the sewing path in overlying alignment with the edges 22 and 23 of the waist band 18.
  • the sewing machine operator folds the waist band by hand and then places the waist band about the spindles 11-14 as indicated in Fig. 1.
  • Spindles 11, 12, 13 and 14 each are elongated, substantially cylindrically shaped members with a rounded, tapered proximal end 26 and a distal end 27.
  • the aligned edges 22 and 23 of the waist band 19 are moved by the sewing machine operator onto the spindles, received over the tapered proximal ends thereof and approximately in alignment with the distal ends 27 of the spindles.
  • the spindles support and guide the waist band and shirt body along the sewing path 16 for attaching and trimming, and uniformly stretch the waist band to a predetermined width to match the waist edge of the shirt body.
  • the operator places the waist edge 24 of the shirt body 19 in telescoped relationship about the waist band 18 until its waist edge is aligned with the edges 22 and 23 of the waist band 18.
  • the aligned edges 22, 23 and 24 are placed in the sewing path 16, in alignment with the sewing needle 17 of the sewing machine.
  • the waist band 18 and shirt body 19 are moved in the direction indicated by arrow A about the spindles 11-14 and the sewing needle 17 forms stitches 29 at the aligned edges 22, 23 and 24 of the garment parts.
  • the stitches 29 are formed as overedge chain stitches extending about the edges 22, 23 and 24 of the garment parts.
  • a conventional trimmer 31 cuts a portion of the garment parts that overlie the sewing path away from the garment parts, thereby assuring the finished garment has neat, aligned edges.
  • the garment is progressively urged out of the sewing path 16 so that the sewing needle sews off of the garment and forms a thread chain 32 extending from the garment.
  • the waist band attachment system 35 includes a sewing machine 36 which is mounted on a work table 37 for the waist band attachment system.
  • the sewing machine 36 includes a sewing head 38 positioned above the sewing path and which includes the sewing needle 17, loopers (not shown) and the presser foot 39 of the sewing machine.
  • a series of threads 40, 40' and 40" are supplied to the sewing needle and loopers from thread supply rails (not shown) for forming the overedge stitching 29 (Fig. 3A) .
  • Thread tensioners 41, 41' and 41" (Fig. 4) are mounted to the sewing machine adjacent the sewing head 38.
  • the thread tensioners each include a pair of opposed tension plates 42 and 43 between which the threads are received, and a compression spring (not shown) that biases the upper tension plate 43 toward tension plate 42 to apply tension to the thread received therebetween.
  • the threads 40, 40' and 40" pass through the thread tensioners, extending to the needle and loopers, and are placed under a desired degree of tension according to the desired tightness of the stitches to be formed in the garment.
  • a garment puller 44 is mounted adjacent and in operative relationship with respect to sewing head 38 and guide spindle 11.
  • Garment puller 44 is mounted above and along the sewing path 16 and includes a toothed puller wheel 45 that is mounted to a pivot arm 46 that moves the puller wheel downwardly toward and upwardly away from engagement with spindle 12, as indicated by arrows B and B' .
  • the pivot arm 46 is pivotally mounted at its opposite end to an upright support arm 47.
  • Pneumatically actuated cylinder 48 is mounted to the support arm 47 and to the distal end of the pivot arm 46 and controls the arcuate movement of pivot arm.
  • a reciprocally stepping motor is connected to a sprocket
  • a drive belt 50 is encircled about the sprocket 49 and puller wheel, linking the sprocket and puller wheel in a driving relationship so as to cause the puller wheel to rotate in a clockwise direction with the rotation of the sprocket by the motor.
  • the spindle 12 of sewing head 38 functions as an idler spindle, which is positively rotated by the rotation of the drive wheel when the puller wheel is moved down into its operative position with the waist band and shirt body engaged between the puller wheel and the spindle 12.
  • a garment ejector 51 is mounted adjacent the sewing head 38, positioned along the sewing path upstream from the garment puller 44 for ejecting the garment from the system upon completion of the sewing operation.
  • Fig. 5 shows sewing head 38, garment puller 44, garment ejector 51 and spindles 11-14 in side elevation.
  • Fig. 6 shows these same components of the system in more detail.
  • the leftmost spindle 11 is mounted to a first movable guide spindle assembly 52.
  • Spindle assembly 52 includes a mounting plate 53 that is attached to the work table, and slide bar mounts 54 and 56 attached to a track 57 mounted to the mounting plate 53.
  • Slide bars 58 extend between and are supported by the slide bar mounts 54 and 56.
  • a slide block 59 is mounted on and is movable along slide bars 58, with the movement at the slide block limited by the spacing of the slide bar mounts.
  • Locking cylinder assemblies 61 and 62 are mounted to the slide bar mounts 54 and 56 for locking the slide bar mounts in a desired position along the track 59.
  • the locking cylinder assemblies generally are pneumatically actuated cylinders and each include lock plates 63 movable into and out of locking engagement with the teeth of track 57 upon actuation of the cylinders so as to hold the slide bar mounts in a desired, set position with respect to the mounting plate.
  • the slide bar mounts are movable along the track 57 and are locked in place by the locking cylinder assemblies 61 and 62 (Fig. 7) to enable the spacing between the slide bar mounts and thus the range of movement of the slide block, to be set as desired. This enables adjustment of the amount of movement of the spindle toward and away from sewing head 38 for the purpose of size adjustment with respect to larger and smaller of the garment parts.
  • An upright support plate 66 is mounted to the slide block 59, and is movable longitudinally with the movement of block 59 along the slide bars 58.
  • a pivot arm 67 is pivotedly mounted to the upright support plate at its lower end by pivot pin 68, with spindle 11 rotatably mounted to the upper end of the pivot arm.
  • a pneumatically actuated cylinder 69 is mounted to the upright support plate 66, extending along the front surface thereof, and includes piston rod 71 that is attached at its free end to the pivot arm 67 at a point intermediate the pivot pin 68 and spindle 11. When cylinder 69 is actuated, the pivot arm is pivoted about pivot pin 68 such that spindle 11 is moved through an arcuate path as indicated by double-headed arrow 72 generally toward and away from sewing head 38.
  • Elongated air cylinder 73 is positioned below the first spindle assembly 52, extending along the sewing path.
  • Elongated air cylinder 73 is a pneumatically operated cylinder having a piston rod (not shown) to which the upright support plate 66 is mounted.
  • the upright support plate moves longitudinally between the slide bar mounts 54 and 56 by the extension and retraction of the piston rod of air cylinder 73.
  • spindle 11 is moved between a nonoperative, resting position (Fig. 4) and its operative, initial stretching position (as shown in Fig. 5) upon the actuation of air cylinder 73.
  • a second or right side guide spindle assembly 75 is shown at the right side of Fig. 6, which assembly is on the other side of sewing head 38 from the first spindle assembly 52.
  • the second spindle assembly 75 (Figs. 6 and 8) is actuated at the start of a sewing operation to stretch the garment toward the right side of the waist band attachment system.
  • the second spindle assembly includes a mounting plate 76 (Fig. 8) attached to the work table of the waist band attachment system and having a rodle ⁇ s pneumatic cylinder 77 mounted thereon.
  • the rodless cylinder generally includes a carriage 78 that is movable along the length thereof.
  • An upright support plate 79 is mounted to the carriage 78 and thus is movable along the length of cylinder 77 with the movement of carriage 78 therealong.
  • Spindles 13 and 14 are mounted to the front facing surface of the support plate 79, spaced vertically from one another and extending in a direction normal to the sewing path.
  • the spindles 13 and 14 are movable in a direction parallel to the sewing path with the movement of the support plate 79 along the cylinder 77 to stretch the garment body and waist band to a desired tension bar sewing as shown in Fig. 5.
  • the spindles can be tilted or reoriented with respect to the sewing path by an adjustment knob 80 (Fig. 8) extending between the support plate 79 and carriage 78.
  • the adjustment knob causes the support plate, and thus guide spindles 13 and 14 to be tilted toward or away from the carriage, and thus to tilt with respect to the sewing path as desired.
  • spindle 13 includes a nose portion 81 connected to a pivot arm 82 by a connector bracket 83.
  • the nose portion 81 is loosely attached to the body of spindle 13 so as to be movable laterally with respect to the body of the spindle in a direction substantially parallel to the sewing path as tension in the garment increases as the garment body is stretched by the movement of a spindles 13 and 14 along the sewing path by cylinder 77.
  • the pivot arm 82 is an elongated bar attached at a first end to the nose portion 81 of spindle 13 by bracket 83, and pivotally attached to the support plate 79 at its opposite or second end by a clevis 84 mounted to the support plate.
  • a pivot pin 85 connects the second end of pivot arm 82 to the clevis 84 to enable the pivoting movement of pivot arm 82 with the lateral movement of the nose portion 81 of the spindle 13.
  • a spring arm 86 extends along the front of the support plate 79, attached at one end to the pivot arm 82 adjacent the second end thereof so as to be movable with the pivoting movement of the pivot arm 82, and attached at its opposite end to a spring block 87.
  • the spring block 87 comprises a square shaped block having a pocket 88 formed therein and is movable toward and away from the support plate with the movement of the spring arm 86 and pivot arm 82.
  • a compression spring 89 is received within the pocket 88, attached thereto by a fastener 90, such as a nut and bolt, that extends through the spring block and the support plate 79.
  • the fastener 90 further includes an adjustment knob 91 that can be manipulated to adjust the tension of the spring 89.
  • the spring 89 biases the spring block 87 toward the support plate to resist movement of the spring block, and thus movement of the spring arm 86, pivot arm 82 and nose portion 81 of spindle 13, until the tension in the garment body pulling on the nose portion is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 89.
  • a proximity switch 92 is mounted to the support plate 79 adjacent the spring block 87. The proximity switch 92 senses the movement of spring block away from the support plate in response to the increase in tension in the garment body pulling against the nose portion 81 of spindle 13. In response, the switch 91 stops the further movement of the carriage 78 along cylinder 7"7 to halt the stretching of the garment body.
  • switch 92 is disclosed as a proximity switch, it is possible to use other types of switch or sensing means as desired.
  • the swing of the garment is not permitted to commence until the tensioning of the garment by the second guide spindle assembly is completed, and thereafter, the tensioning of the garment by the second guide spindle assembly is temporarily deactivated as the garment is sewn.
  • An adjustment screw 93 mounts the switch 92 to the support plate and enables the position of the switch to be adjusted to adjust the sensitivity of the switch.
  • limit switches (not shown) are mounted along cylinder 77.
  • the limit switches enable the travel of the carriage 78 along the cylinder 77 to be substantially fixed for small, medium and large size garments, with any minor differences in the sizes of the garments being detected and compensated for by the live sensing of increases in tension by the nose portion 81 of roller 13.
  • a guide tongue assembly 95 (Fig. 4) is positioned along the sewing path, movably mounted to the work table 37 of the waist band attachment system 35 and positioned upstream from the sewing head 38. As shown in Figs.
  • the guide tongue assembly is a substantially C-shaped shelf generally positioned outside of the sewing path of the waist band attachment system until actuated, and includes a horizontally oriented upper support plate 96 and a horizontally oriented lower plate 97 extending parallel to and spaced from the upper support plate 96.
  • a substantially L-shaped mounting bracket 5 98 is attached to the downwardly facing surface of lower plate 97, extending toward the sewing path and having a downwardly extending front portion 99.
  • Piston rods 101 and 102 of a pair of air cylinders are attached to the downwardly extending front portion 99 of the mounting bracket.
  • the piston rods Upon C actuation of the air cylinders of the piston rods 101 and 102, the piston rods are extended and retracted to move the guide tongue assembly laterally toward and away from the sewing path in the direction of double headed arrow 103.
  • the retraction and extension of the piston rods move the guide tongue 5 assembly between its operative position shown in Fig. 9A in response to the placement of the placement of the waist band material within the sewing path 18, and its inoperative, nonengaging position, shown in Fig. 9B, in response to the sewn edges of the garment approaching the sewing needle at the C end of a sewing cycle.
  • idler wheels 104 are mounted in the upper and lower surfaces of the upper support plate 96 of the guide tongue assembly 95.
  • the idler wheels are positioned along the sewing 5 path in a staggered relationship.
  • the idler wheels comprise toothed sprockets formed from plastic or similar material and are rotatable about vertical axes extending through the upper plate.
  • a decurling means 106 (Figs. 6 and 9B) is 0 mounted to the guide tongue assembly 95, positioned along the upper support plate thereof.
  • the decurling means generally includes a pair of air nozzles 107 and 108 positioned along the upstream and downstream side edges 109 and 111 of the upper support plate 96, and connected to an air supply means 5 (not shown) such as a compressor or an air tank for supplying a flow of air under pressure to the nozzles.
  • the nozzles direct a flow of air across the sewing path, directed at the edges 22, 23 and 24 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the waist band 18 and shirt body 19. The air flow causes the rolled edges of the waist band and shirt body to be uncurled and flattened prior to being engaged by the sewing needle of the sewing head.
  • the guide tongue assembly further includes a band edge sensor 112 mounted between the upper and lower plates 96 and 97 and directed upwardly toward the upper plate as shown in Fig. 9A for detecting the position of the folded edge of the waist band, which is indicative of the presence of the cut edges of the waist band being in or out of the sewing path.
  • the band edge sensor 112 generally is a photo-cell or similar sensing means that detects the folded edge of the waist band by the covering and uncovering of a reflector plate (not shown) mounted on the underside of the work table 43 (Fig. 4) by the movement of the folded edge of the waist band thereacross.
  • a shirt edge guide assembly 115 is positioned along the sewing path opposite the guide tongue assembly.
  • the edge guide assembly includes lower and upper operative edge guide units 116 and 11", with the lower operative unit mounted to the work table 43 and the upper operative unit mounted to the lower operative unit.
  • the operative edge guide units 116 and 117 have substantially mirror constructions, each including a support arm 118 that extends laterally toward the sewing path 16 (Fig. 9B) .
  • the support arms are pivotable from nonoperative positions, shown in Fig 9B, to operative positions in the sewing path as shown in Fig. 9A upon the start of a sewing operation, and each supports at its distal end a toothed star wheel 119.
  • the star wheels 119 are rotatably mounted to the support arms 118 by pivot pins 121, with springs 122 positioned between the star wheels and the ends of the pivot pins as shown in Figs. 5, 10A and 10B.
  • the springs enable some slight movement of the star wheels in the direction of the sewing path.
  • the star wheels tend to give and move slightly, as indicated by arrows 120, (Fig. 10A) to the positions shown in dashed lines to enable the seams or ridge to pass thereunder without catching or binding against the star wheels and jamming the sewing operation.
  • the star wheels 119 have large gaps between their radially extending, rounded edge teeth 123 so that the waist band 18 and shirt body 19 (Fig. 7) can move along the sewing path 16 in a direction transverse to the star wheels in lightly sliding engagement with respect to the teeth of the star wheels.
  • the star wheels are positioned so as to engage and mesh with the toothed idler wheels 104 of the guide tongue assembly, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10A, with the shirt body and the waist band engaged therebetween.
  • the star wheels 119 lightly engage the idler wheels 104 of the guide tongue assembly 95, with the waist band and shirt body engaged therebetween, and tend to pull the edges of the waist band and shirt body into or out of the sewing path as the star wheels are rotated so that the waist edges 22, 23 and 24 (Figs.
  • stepping motors 124 are mounted to the operative edge guide units 116 and 117.
  • Each stepping motor is a reciprocating motor connected to the star wheels 19 in driving relationship by timing belts 126 extending along support arm 118. The motors rotate the star wheels clockwise/counterclockwise as needed to adjust the position at the waist band and shirt body edges in the sewing path.
  • a sensor array 127 is mounted to the upper operative edge guide unit 117, positioned above and directed toward the sewing path 16 (Fig. 9B) .
  • the sensor array generally includes a band sensor 128 and a body edge sensor 129 positioned on opposite sides of the support arm 118 of the upper operative edge guide unit 117.
  • Each of the sensors generally is a photoelectric cell or similar sensing means, such as a laser detector or the like, and is directed toward band and body reflector plates 131 (Fig. 9A) .
  • the band sensor 128 is directed downwardly toward its band reflector plate 130 so as to detect the presence of the waist band moving into the sewing path.
  • the waist band As the waist band is moved over the band reflector plate 130, it breaks the beam of the band sensor.
  • the first spindle assembly 52 (Fig. 4) is caused to be moved longitudinally along the sewing path away from spindles 12, 13 and 14, to stretch the waist band to a first, initially stretched position.
  • the tripping of the band sensor further triggers the movement of the body reflector plate 131 laterally into the sewing path, with the body reflector plate 131 being positioned above the waist band.
  • the guide tongue assembly 95 is caused to be moved laterally in the direction of arrow 103' (Fig. 9B) inwardly toward the sewing path into a position above the waist band, and a seam switch 132 likewise is caused to be moved into the sewing path 16 over the waist band.
  • the body sensor 129 positioned on the downstream side of the support arm 118 of the operative edge guide unit 117.
  • the body sensor is directed downwardly toward the sewing path and toward the body reflector plate 131 once the body reflector plate has been moved into its engaged position in the sewing path.
  • Body sensor 129 functions to detect the waist edge 24
  • the detection of the folded edge of the waist band moving across the beam of band edge sensor 112, indicating the movement of the cut edge of the waist band moving into and out of the sewing path causes the actuation of the motor 124 of the lower operative edge guide unit 116.
  • the motor rotates the star wheel 119 of the lower operative edge guide unit either counterclockwise or clockwise so as to push or pull the cut edges of the waist band into or out of the sewing path simultaneously with the pushing and pulling of the waist edge of the shirt body into and out of the sewing path.
  • the waist edges of the waist band and the shirt body are maintained in alignment with one another as they are engaged by the sewing needle of the sewing head.
  • this reciprocating motion ensures that the waist band material is evenly attached about the waist edge of the shirt body.
  • the positions band edge sensor and body edge sensor also can be adjusted by the operator to adjust the amount of trimming of the shirt body. For example, the position of the eyes can be adjusted to trim 1/8 inch of material or more off of the shirt body and a corresponding portion of the waist band as desired.
  • a lever switch 133 is supported on lower operative edge guide unit 116 and is movable into the sewing path upon actuation of band sensor 128.
  • the lever switch 133 includes a switch housing 134 mounted to the piston rods of an air cylinder assembly 136 that extends and retracts its piston rods upon the tripping of the band sensor 126, and a guide finger 137 mounted to the front edge of the housing so as to move into and out of the sewing path with the movement of the switch housing. This places the guide finger 134 between the plies of material, on top of the folded waist band and below the shirt body.
  • an additional pair of guide sensors 138 and 139 are mounted along the sewing path of the shirt body and waist band.
  • Guide sensor 138 is mounted adjacent band edge sensor 112, slightly inward toward the sewing path of the garment and is directed upwardly toward the waist edge of the waist band.
  • Guide sensor 139 is mounted adjacent body edge sensor 129, slightly inward toward the sewing path of the garment and is directed downwardly toward the waist edge of the shirt body.
  • the guide sensors communicate with the upper and lower operative edge guide units 117 and 116 during the initial job or run of the garment.
  • the guide sensors 138 and 139 detect the position of the edges of the waist band and shirt body and engage the upper and lower operative edge guide units to urge the edges of the shirt body and waist band back and forth across the sewing path to positions aligned with the cutter of the sewing machine.
  • the waist edges of the waist band and shirt body are caused to pass immediately adjacent, but without engaging, the cutter of the sewing machine during the initial jog of the system prior to a sewing operation.
  • control of the operative edge guide units is switched to the band and body edge sensors 112 and 129, which control the positioning of the shirt body and waist band during a sewing operation.
  • garment ejector 51 is positioned downstream from body reflector plate 131, and is movable into the sewing path upon actuation of the sewing assembly.
  • the garment ejector includes a support plate 141 that is mounted to the work table 37.
  • Support housing 142 is mounted over support plate 141 and accommodates a pneumatic cylinder 143.
  • the pneumatic cylinder 143 is connected to an ejector plate 144 having a downwardly turned distal end 146, and an upwardly curled or hooked catch portion 147 positioned rearwardly from the distal end.
  • cylinder 143 When cylinder 143 is actuated, it pushes ejector plate 144 forwardly across and beyond the sewing path of the sewing head 38, which causes the work product to be pushed out of the sewing path and off of the spindles 11-14. Initially, the ejector is engaged in response to the tripping of the lever switch 133 and urges the work product progressively out of the sewing path so that the sewing machine sews off of the garmen . Thereafter, the movement of the ejector is halted for a short time while the sewing machine continues to sew and forms a thread chain 32 after which the ejector moves the garment further forwardly and off of the spindles.
  • a stitch counter 148 (Fig. 4) is mounted to the work table 37 of the waist band attachment system 40 and is connected to the sewing head 38.
  • the stitch counter 148 generally comprises a programmable computer or similar processing unit having a sensing means for recording the number of stitches sewn in the waist band and shirt body by the sewing head.
  • the stitch counter is programmed with a first stitch count of a desired number of stitches to be formed in garment depending on the size of the garment.
  • the second guide spindle assembly 75 is reactivated to sense the tension or lack thereof in the garment. If the proximity switch 92 (Fig.
  • the second guide spindle assembly detects an absence of the spring block 87 in close proximity therewith, indicating that the garment is still under sufficient tension to cause the nose portion 81 of spindle 13 to be pulled rearwardly along the sewing path, the spindles 13 and 14 are maintained in their currently set position as no further stretching is required.
  • the proximity switch 92 detects the presence of the spring block 87 in close proximity therewith, indicating that the tension in the garment has been substantially relieved so that the nose portion of spindle 13 is moved back into alignment with the body of spindle 13 and the spring block is permitted to move toward the support plate 79, cylinder 77 is engaged and moves the carriage 79 further along its length and away from the sewing path.
  • a tension opener assembly 150 (Figs. 4, 5 and 11) is mounted to the sewing machine, positioned adjacent the thread tensioner 41 for the needle thread 40 of the sewing machine.
  • the tension opener assembly includes an air cylinder 151 connected to an air supply (not shown) , and a push rod 152 connected to the air cylinder 151.
  • the push rod is mounted above the tension plates 42 and 43 of thread tensioner 41 and has a pointed end adapted to engage and move between the tension plates.
  • the push rod 152 is extended and retracted by the actuation of the air cylinder toward the end of a sewing operation and tends to urge the tension plates apart.
  • the air cylinder 151 is actuated by the stitch counter 148 counting a second stitch count of stitches being formed in the garment following the tripping of the lever switch 133 and, in response, moves the push rod 152 between the tension plates 42 and 43, thus releasing the tension on the needle thread 40.
  • a presser foot lift cylinder assembly 155 is mounted to a downstream side of the sewing machine 36 and is connected to the presser foot 39 of the sewing machine to control the raising and lowering of the presser foot.
  • the presser foot lift cylinder assembly 155 includes first and second air cylinders 156 and 157 positioned in a vertically extending, parallel alignment, and lever 158 pivotally mounted to the sewing machine and extending beneath the cylinders 156 and 157.
  • Each air cylinder has a piston rod 159 having a foot 161 attached to its free end.
  • the lever 158 is an elongated bar connected at a first end 162 to the presser foot 39 by a linkage (not shown) and having a second end 163 positioned to be engaged by the feet of the cylinders. As the feet of the cylinders engage the second end 163 of the lever, causing the lever to pivot downwardly, causing the presser foot to be raised.
  • a stop 164 is positioned adjacent the second end of the lever, beneath the foot 161 of the cylinder 156. The stop is an upstanding bar or rod that limits the downward movement of the foot of cylinder 156 to thus limit the pivoting movement of the lever.
  • Cylinder 156 is actuated by the tripping of the lever switch 133 (Fig. 6) by the finished garment.
  • cylinder 156 (Fig. 11) extends its foot 161 to urge the second end 163 of the lever 158 downwardly a short distance.
  • the presser foot 39 is raised approximately 1/8 of an inch to enable the garment to be moved out from under the sewing head by the ejector.
  • cylinder 157 extends its foot 161 against the lever, moving the lever to its fully lowered position to cause the presser foot to be raised fully for removal of the garment.
  • a thumb swipe switch 170 (Fig. 4) is mounted above the right side guide spindle assembly 75, to the right of the edge guide assembly. Upon contact of the switch by the operator, the system is placed in operation. This allows the operator of the system to place the garment parts about the spindles 11-14 and with only a small movement of her thumb through the recess of the thumb swipe switch, begin the automatic operation of the system.
  • FIGs. 4 and 12 illustrate a stacker 200 is positioned adjacent the work table of the waist band attachment system for maintaining a supply of unfinished shirt bodies for placement on the spindles 11-14, and for automatically removing the completed work product after the sewing cycle has been completed.
  • the stacker 200 includes a supply frame 201 and an accumulator frame 202, positioned between the supply frame 201 and the work table; clamp bars 203 and 204 mounted to the supply and accumulation frames, respectively, and a wiper bar 206.
  • the supply frame, accumulator frame and clamp bars all are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a common support 207 so as to be pivotable toward and away from one another as illustrated in Figs. 12-16.
  • the supply frame generally is rectangularly shaped, having an upper plate 208 mounted on and supported by legs 209 attached to each side of the upper plate, and a cross bar 211 extending between the legs below the upper plate.
  • the supply frame supports a supply of shirt bodies 19 on its upper plate.
  • the position of supply frame 201 is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder 212 which is mounted to a stationary support and is connected to the cross bar 211 of the supply 201 frame.
  • the accumulator frame 202 generally is rectangularly shaped and includes an upper bar 213 supported by spaced parallel legs 214, and supports a stack of finished garments 10 folded over its upper bar 213.
  • the position of the accumulator frame is controlled by a pair of cylinders 216 (only one of which is shown) mounted on a stationary support and are connected to the legs 214 of the accumulator frame.
  • the clamp bars 203 and 204 generally move in unison with the supply and accumulator frames 201 and 202, but additionally can be moved toward and away from the supply and accumulator frames between clamped and undamped positions.
  • Each of the clamp bars 203 and 204 generally is substantially rectangularly shaped and includes an horizontally extending upper bar 217 adapted to engage the upper plate 208 and upper bar 213 of the supply and accumulator frames 201 and 202 when the clamp bars are in their clamping positions against the supply and accumulator frames as shown in Figs . 12 and 14.
  • the clamp bars further include a pair of spaced vertically extending legs 218 supporting the upper bar 217.
  • the legs 218 of the first clamp bar 203 are pivotally attached at their distal ends to the lower ends of the legs 209 of the supply frame 201 by pivot pins 219 (only one of which is shown) to enable the clamp bars to pivot between their clamped and undamped positions.
  • a pneumatic cylinder 221 is mounted to one of the legs 214 of the clamp bar 203 and includes a piston rod 222 attached at its free end to the adjacent leg. As the pneumatic cylinder 221 is actuated, it extends and retracts its piston rod 222, which causes the clamp bar 203 to pivot about its pivot pin 219 rearwardly away from the supply frame 201 or forwardly towards clamping engagement with the upper bar of the supply frame as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. Similarly, a pneumatic cylinder 223 is pivotally attached to a forwardly facing side surface of leg 214' of the accumulator frame, positioned between the accumulator frame and its clamp bar 204.
  • These pneumatic cylinders include a piston rod 224 that is attached to the adjacent leg 218' of clamp bar 204 such that upon actuation of the cylinder 223, piston rod 224 is extended and retracted so as to cause the clamp bar 204 to be pivoted toward and away from the accumulator frame, into and out of its clamping positions with respect to the accumulator frame.
  • the wiper bar 206 generally is a substantially L-shaped bar or rod having a horizontally extending portion that projects forwardly that projects over and extends parallel to the upper surfaces of the upper plate 208 and upper bar 213 of the supply and accumulator frames.
  • the wiper is pivotable in an arcuate motion across the supply and accumulator frames as shown in Figs. 13 to 16 in order to pick up and remove a finished garment from the spindles of the waist band attachment system, causing the garment to be folded over the upper bar of the accumulator frame, stacked over previously finished garments.
  • the wiper bar is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder that moves the wiper bar in an arcuate motion from a first position in front of the supply frame 201 and its clamp bar 203, as shown in Fig. 12, in the direction of arrows 226 to a second position over the accumulator frame 202, and (as shown in Fig. 15), and back to its initial position as shown in Fig. 16 to remove a finished garment from the waist band attachment system.
  • Fig. 17 provides a schematic illustration of the cycle time of the waist band attachment system.
  • Function 1 The operator folds a waist band 18 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 so that its edges are in overlying alignment and inserts the waist band 18 about the spindles 11- 14.
  • a band sensor 128 Figs. 4 and 5
  • the first spindle assembly 52 is moved to the left as cylinder 73 is actuated in response to the tripping of band sensor 128, and a body reflector plate 131 and a seam switch 132 are moved into the sewing path positioned above the waist band (Fig. 9A) .
  • the operator retrieves the waist edge 24 of a shirt body 19 from the stack of shirt bodies stacked on the supply frame 201 (Figs. 12-16) and places the waist edge 24 of the shirt body 19 about the spindles 11-14 (Fig. 3) .
  • Puller wheel 45 (Fig. 6) moves down and rotates against the spindle 12 to clamp the garment parts against the spindle and to pull the garment parts about the rotatable spindles 11-14.
  • Function 4 The garment parts are started along an initial jog to align the waist edges of the garment parts prior to sewing.
  • Guide sensors 138 and 139 (Fig. 5) detect the position of the waist edges of the waist band and shirt body in the sewing path.
  • the guide sensors engage the upper and lower operative edge guide units which control the position of the waist band and shirt body by moving the waist band and shirt body laterally across the sewing path.
  • the waist edges of the waist band and shirt body thus are aligned during the initial jog and tend to move immediately adjacent the cutter of the sewing machine so as to avoid engaging the cutter during the initial jog to prevent pleating of the material.
  • control of the edge guide units is switched to the band edge and body edge sensors 112 and 129 for sewing.
  • the movement of the nose portion causes pivot arm 82 to pivot about pivot pin 85, pivoting spring arm 86 and causing spring block 87 to be moved away from the support plate.
  • This movement of the spring block is detected by switch 92 in response to which the stretching of the garment is halted.
  • the sewing of the garment then is commenced to form the stitching 26 until the garment is completed.
  • the sewing of the garment is not permitted to start, however, until the tensioning of the garment by the second guide spindle assembly is completed.
  • Function 5 The upper operative unit 117 (Figs. 6 and 9A) of guide assembly 115 controls the position of the edge of the shirt body, by the detection by body sensor 129, the waist edge of the shirt body being in or out of the sewing path, and covering and uncovering the body reflector plate 131.
  • the motor 124 is actuated to rotate star wheel 119 clockwise and counterclockwise to urge the shirt edge back to its proper position.
  • band edge sensor 129 detects the position of the folded edge 21 (Fig. 2) of the waist band, which is indicative of the presence and absence of the waist edges 22 and 23 in the sewing path 16.
  • motor 124' (Fig. 9A) of the lower operative unit 116 of the edge guide assembly is actuated and rotates star wheel 119' in a reciprocable fashion causing the edges 22 and 23 (Fig. 2) of the waist band to be moved back and forth into and out of the sewing path as the folded edge 21 crosses the beam of band edge sensor 112 (Fig. 5) .
  • Air is supplied to the air nozzles 107 and 108 (Fig. 9A) of the decurling means 106 to remove the curl from the stretched edges of the waist band and shirt body.
  • Function 7 The system is allowed to operate about an initial jog for a predetermined time before sewing head 38 (Fig. 5) is actuated. This enables the waist edges of the garment parts to be moved into matched alignment before being sewn together and allows any previously curled portion of the waist edge of a shirt body to pass on through the sewing head, until the flattened portion of the waist edges pass from the edge guide assembly 115 through garment ejector 51 and to sewing head 38. At this point, presser foot 39 moves down into contact with the garment parts and the sewing needle 17 begins its sewing function.
  • Function 8 The system is permitted to operate for a predetermined stitch count. Once the stitch count has been achieved, the proximity switch 92 (Fig. 8) of the right spindle assembly 75 is actuated. The proximity switch detects the absence or presence of spring block 87 in close proximity therewith, which indicates the sufficiency or lack of tension in the garment. If the spring block is detected in close proximity, indicating a relaxing of tension in the garment, cylinder 77 is actuated to move spindles 13 and 14 outwardly to the right to stretch the garment parts further. This function is desirable so as to avoid the formation of a wrinkle or pleat just prior to the position of the presser foot 39 (Fig. 5) . With the garment stretched further as the previously sewn portion of the garment begins its approach to the sewing needle 17, any such pleats tend to disappear.
  • a first air cylinder 156 (Fig. 11) of a presser foot lift cylinder assembly extends its piston rod 159 inwardly and its foot 161 engages lever 158.
  • the lever is connected to the presser foot 39 such that as the lever is pivoted downwardly, the presser foot is raised.
  • the downward motion of the foot 161 of the first air cylinder is limited by a stop 164 positioned adjacent the second end of the lever.
  • the presser foot is raised approximately 1/8" in response to the actuation of first air cylinder 156.
  • the limited raising of the presser foot is sufficient to enable the garment to be urged outwardly from beneath the sewing head of the sewing machine, without the presser foot engaging and interfering with the continued sewing operation of the needle.
  • the thread chain formed by the needle after the needle has sewn off of the garment includes needle and looper threads that are approximately equivalent in length. Having the needle and looper threads of the thread chain being approximately equivalent in length significantly reduces the possibilities of the individual threads being pulled or picked thus becoming separated so that the portion of the thread chain remaining with the garment after trimming becomes brayed with elongated pigtails that have to be further trimmed in a later processing operation.
  • the garment is moved to a position where the stitching exits the garment is approximately equal with the trimmer of the sewing machine and the further forward motion of the garment is halted.
  • the thread chain then is drawn between the blades of the trimmer by a vacuum means.
  • the thread chain is severed by the trimmer, leaving the garment with a shortened tail portion of the thread chain, approximately 1/4" - 1/2" in length, remaining connected thereto.
  • Stacker 220 begins its stacking function, as previously described.
  • the system is de-energized, so that the spindles 11, 13 and 14 retract to their original positions close to the sewing head, garment ejector 51 retracts to its out of the way position.
  • the accumulator frame 202 and its clamp bar 204 move as indicated by arrows 226 in Figs. 13-14, to clamp against the trailing portion of the shirt body 19.
  • the wiper bar 206 begins its movement (Fig. 15) as indicated by arrow 227 toward the accumulator frame.
  • the wiper bar lifts the shirt body and begins to move the body on to the accumulator frame while, and clamp bar 204, at the same time, begins its movement away from its clamping position, as indicated by arrow 228. This causes the shirt body 17 to be flipped over the accumulator frame.
  • clamp bat 204 returns into clamping relationship with respect to accumulator frame as indicated by arrow 229. Gnce clamp bar 204 has achieved clamping relationship with respect to the shirt body 17 and the accumulator frame, the clamp bar and accumulator frame pivot back to their out of the way positions as indicated in Fig. 12.
  • a stationary accumulator rail 230 extends from adjacent the stacker 200 out to a lateral position beside the system.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)

Abstract

Une bande de ceinture (18) est placée en échevau sur des broches (11-14). Les pièces de vêtement progressent en se déroulant le long des broches (11-14) et défilent sous une aiguille de couture (17) qui réalise une ligne de piqûre. Les broches extrêmes (11, 13 et 14) se déplacent dans le sens longitudinal, le long du chemin de couture, pour régler la position de la bande de ceinture en réponse à la position des bords repliés (22, 23) de la bande de ceinture (18) telle que détectée par un capteur (128) de bande, tandis que des étoiles d'avance (119) saisissent la bande de ceinture (18) ainsi que le corps du vêtement (19) pour les forcer soit en direciton du chemin de couture (16) soit dans l'autre sens, en fonction des instructions données par les capteurs (112, 129). Lorsque les bords dejà cousus des pièces de vêtement reviennent vers la machine à coudre (36), une des broches (13) se déplace latéralement de manière à étirer davantage les pièces de vêtement, supprimant ainsi toute accumulation du bord de ceinture (24) du corps du vêtement (19) au niveau de l'aiguille de couture (17) afin d'éviter la formation d'un faux pli dans le corps du vêtement (19).
EP95935082A 1994-09-26 1995-09-25 Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture Ceased EP0730683A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US311921 1989-02-16
US08/311,921 US5522332A (en) 1993-10-04 1994-09-26 Waist band attachment system
PCT/US1995/012172 WO1996010344A2 (fr) 1994-09-26 1995-09-25 Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0730683A1 EP0730683A1 (fr) 1996-09-11
EP0730683A4 true EP0730683A4 (fr) 1997-07-16

Family

ID=23209080

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95935082A Ceased EP0730683A4 (fr) 1994-09-26 1995-09-25 Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5522332A (fr)
EP (1) EP0730683A4 (fr)
JP (1) JPH09505764A (fr)
CA (1) CA2177389A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996010344A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5743202A (en) * 1993-10-04 1998-04-28 Atlanta Attachment Company Elastic waistband attachment system
US5979345A (en) * 1993-10-04 1999-11-09 Atlanta Attachment Company Spindle tension system for sewing station
US5622129A (en) * 1995-10-20 1997-04-22 Jet Sew Technologies, Inc. Pneumatic tensioning arm for automated sewing machine
JP3557045B2 (ja) * 1996-05-15 2004-08-25 ペガサスミシン製造株式会社 環状ゴムの縫着装置
US5918560A (en) * 1997-11-17 1999-07-06 Atlanta Attachment Company Textile fold control system with hem engager
US6055921A (en) * 1998-02-19 2000-05-02 Atlanta Attachment Company Waistband attachment system
US6035794A (en) * 1998-09-04 2000-03-14 Atlanta Attachment Company Automatic collar loading system and method
US6295481B1 (en) 1999-03-24 2001-09-25 Ecp Family Properties Serial bus control system for sewing equipment
DE20009773U1 (de) * 2000-06-05 2000-10-12 Texpa Maschb Gmbh & Co Kg Vorrichtung zum Transport eines Stoffabschnitts
US6834603B1 (en) * 2002-03-05 2004-12-28 Atlanta Attachment Company Attachment gusset with ruffled corners and system for automated manufacture of same
US7100525B1 (en) 2003-02-10 2006-09-05 Atlanta Attachment Company, Inc. System and method of finishing ruffled gussets/borders
US7984681B1 (en) 2007-11-20 2011-07-26 Atlanta Attachment Company Automatic panel sewing and flanging system
MX370214B (es) * 2015-01-28 2019-12-05 Lonati Spa Procedimiento para proporcionar articulos fabricados tubulares semiacabados que van a ser cerrados mediante costura en un extremo axial de los mismos para la produccion de calcetines, y articulo fabricado tubular semiacabado obtenido con el procedimiento.
PL3277874T3 (pl) * 2015-04-03 2019-07-31 Santoni S.P.A. Sposób i urządzenie do mocowania paska tkaninowego na wyrobie dzianinowym

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3970014A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-07-20 Kayabakoyo-Kabushiki-Kaisha Automatic sewing machine
US4098201A (en) * 1976-10-18 1978-07-04 Union Special Corporation Method and apparatus for hemming
US4186676A (en) * 1977-04-28 1980-02-05 Rockwell-Rimoldi, S.P.A. Apparatus for forming a chain of stitches on double needle sewing machines
GB2219319A (en) * 1988-05-31 1989-12-06 Union Special Gmbh Device for sewing a hem on a tubular workpiece
US5570647A (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-11-05 Union Special Corporation Automatic attachment of a rib knit band to a shirt body

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1505855A (en) * 1974-12-18 1978-03-30 Erhardt & Leimer Kg Edge unrollers for smoothing rolled edges on travelling webs of material
US4046087A (en) * 1975-04-07 1977-09-06 Sigismondo Piva S.P.A. Automatic apparatus for conjointly sewing two elastic cloths having different elasticity
IT1096663B (it) * 1978-06-15 1985-08-26 Rockwell Rimoldi Spa Apparecchiatura per applicare un elastico ad anello su un indumento tubolare
JPS56163691A (en) * 1980-05-20 1981-12-16 Brother Ind Ltd Alarm device for abnormality of sewing machine
JPS5912588B2 (ja) * 1981-07-14 1984-03-24 ナンモト株式会社 巻取装置
FR2521604A1 (fr) * 1982-02-12 1983-08-19 Amf Inc Dispositif pour l'execution automatique des ourlets aux extremites libres des parties tubulaires des vetements
DE3218494C1 (de) * 1982-05-15 1983-11-17 Union Special Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Naehautomat zur Herstellung eines Blindsaumes an schlauchfoermigen Werkstuecken
DE8516184U1 (de) * 1985-06-03 1985-07-18 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh, 6750 Kaiserslautern Führungsvorrichtung für das Nähgut an Nähmaschinen
JPH0331257Y2 (fr) * 1987-10-31 1991-07-02
US5269239A (en) * 1990-09-10 1993-12-14 Union Special Corporation Automatic attachment of pre-closed elastic waistbands
JPH0523468A (ja) * 1991-07-25 1993-02-02 Pegasus Sewing Mach Mfg Co Ltd ミシンのテープ縫付け方法及び装置
US5370072A (en) * 1993-09-17 1994-12-06 Union Special Corporation Automatic alignment of material and positioning at the stitch forming location
US5437238A (en) * 1993-10-04 1995-08-01 Atlanta Attachment Company Waist band attachment system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3970014A (en) * 1974-11-04 1976-07-20 Kayabakoyo-Kabushiki-Kaisha Automatic sewing machine
US4098201A (en) * 1976-10-18 1978-07-04 Union Special Corporation Method and apparatus for hemming
US4186676A (en) * 1977-04-28 1980-02-05 Rockwell-Rimoldi, S.P.A. Apparatus for forming a chain of stitches on double needle sewing machines
GB2219319A (en) * 1988-05-31 1989-12-06 Union Special Gmbh Device for sewing a hem on a tubular workpiece
US5570647A (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-11-05 Union Special Corporation Automatic attachment of a rib knit band to a shirt body

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9610344A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996010344A2 (fr) 1996-04-11
US5522332A (en) 1996-06-04
WO1996010344A3 (fr) 1996-05-23
JPH09505764A (ja) 1997-06-10
EP0730683A1 (fr) 1996-09-11
CA2177389A1 (fr) 1996-04-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5657711A (en) Waist band attachment system
US5437238A (en) Waist band attachment system
CA1066565A (fr) Methode et appareil servant a l'ourlage
US5562060A (en) Waist band attachment system
US8042478B2 (en) Automatic panel cutting and seaming system
WO1996010344A2 (fr) Systeme de fixation de bande de ceinture
US8739716B2 (en) Automated quilting and tufting system
US5915319A (en) Method and apparatus for producing a hemmed, folded, and seamed finished workpiece
US5743202A (en) Elastic waistband attachment system
US5865135A (en) Method and apparatus for producing a hemmed folded and seamed finished workpiece
US5709162A (en) Semi-automatic method to attach circular collars to T-shirts
JPH09194088A (ja) シート材料切断システム、シート材料切断装置およびその方法ならびにシート材料のセグメント仕上げ方法
CA2184440C (fr) Poste pour l'assemblage de manches
MXPA06010864A (en) Quilted fabric panel cutter
US6055921A (en) Waistband attachment system
US5924376A (en) Waistband attachment system
US5647293A (en) Locker patch attachment system
CA1260768A (fr) Mecanisme pour tirer un produit cousu allonge d'une machine a coudre
US6035794A (en) Automatic collar loading system and method
KR920008100B1 (ko) 연이어 있는 거의 직사각형 플라이천들을 연속 슬라이드 파스너 체인에 꿰매는 방법 및 장치
US4173191A (en) Sewing unit with sectionwise shiftable clamping device
CN107687050B (zh) 一种裤子的制作方法
US3850121A (en) Hemming machine
US3345963A (en) Garment severing and stacking apparatus
US5979345A (en) Spindle tension system for sewing station

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IE IT LI NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19961001

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 19970530

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IE IT LI NL

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19981015

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED

18R Application refused

Effective date: 20010705